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Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Credit Score Tips to Increase Buying Power

By Johnny Bodeen

Is it really some revolutionary idea that good credit helps us buy stuff? Of course not, but we need to understand the system to maximize our chances.

It is true that your credit scores, ranging from 400 to 850 are the main determinant when buying a home with a mortgage. The credit scores give lenders an easy snapshot of your credit picture.

People tend to oversimplify things. When it comes to their own credit scores they assume that as long as payments have been on time the scores should be good.

This is only partially true. Your credit score is generated from numerous factors in combination. Thereafter, no one knows except the developer and those in the real know.

Since we started with payment history you should be aware that you're not late until thirty days post the due date. Keep that in mind when in a pinch. You pay all the way up til the end and still have a clean payment history.

Keep low balances relative to your available credit. If you keep a five dollar balance and you have $1,000 limit is better than a $5 balance and a $10 credit limit.

You definitely don't want to be maxing your cards out. That is bad juju, even if you pay them on time.

A lack of credit history typically works against credit scores. Do yourself a favor and get 2 or 3 slats of plastic. Start using them immediately and pay on time of course.

Do this in moderation. You don't want to go out and open a whole plethora of trade lines. This may be seen as a move to use a bunch of debt.

You want to use your new credit cards every single month and every month you want to pay off the balance. You'll be shocked at how much your scores rise in a very short time.

As far as credit bumps, bruises and scrapes, the more time they exist in your past the better your scores. If even considering looking for a home be extremely careful. Just one recent 30 day late can kill scores.

The scoring system is logical. Be logical when sculpting your credit and watch your scores rise.

Discipline your Lifestyle by using your own Cash

By Paul J. Easton

Debt is something that can be explained by one's personal financial management. Some people with certain spending habits are much more to be lead to debt. We can recognize the habits of these folks with their frequent use of their credit cards but have recurrent missed payments.

These folks need the help to untangle themselves from the destined future financial collapse. But some of them might be in denial of their financial situation as this can be very humiliating.

Distinguishing the existence of this situation, even on the personal level, is extremely important for one to wake up and restrain their spending habits before it is too late.

One of the fastest ways to get further into debt is to use your credit cards even if you have the cash to purchase something. This type of mindset where you buy something with nothing is a typical human tendency to seek for convenience. The down side however is that if one doesn't want to pay today with the purchase, he will not likely pay for it in the future. That is where the methods of restraining oneself in the aspect of personal finance are so important.

Always use cash whenever you make the everyday purchases like groceries and keep your credit cards away from the scene. If one can't resist the appeal of credit cards, it is very advisable that these must be avoided completely. If one is in a large balance that even the minimum payment is difficult to pay, it is suggested not to use the card anymore. Cut up the cards and use debit cards instead while you are still paying for the balances.

Why use cash? Because with credit cards, you are less likely to pay your credit card bills for things you have had already consumed. Most ordinary purchases belong to this category. Another reason to avoid using credit cards is if you don't pay your bills in full each month. Paying only the minimum accumulates your debt and you are the type of person not advisable to make use of these instruments.

Getting rid of one's debt should be everyone's main goal in this time. By giving up your credit cards and living the life without access for credit while you are facing the problem, you will be disciplining yourself hardly with your financial mess. Until you reach the goal of being debt free, you will learn a valuable lesson you will always remember in your life. So pay it with cash for now and you will be rewarded soon. Get debt-free today with tips on how to get rid of debt here.

For more information on how to get rid of debt during the recession, go to http://www.Howtogetridofdebt.net/ by Paul J. Easton.

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The Bummer of Interest Rate Increase for Reverse Mortgage

By Matt Vanrock

If all else fails in the economy at least we can turn the TV on and see how interest rate continue to decline in the Fed's effort to stimulate the economy.

Tons of senior borrowers call me daily asking about the lower interest rates. Some of them are currently in escrow and they want to know how the lower rate changes things for them.

I reply the rates have gone up, not down.

It is true interest rates are extremely low. The main index used for reverse mortgage adjustable rate products is now down to .45%. However, there are more things at work here.

On the other hand those that would invest in mortgage companies were not biting at the former profit margins offered.

You gotta have people investing or the whole deal goes caput. So, profit margins increased by one percent in the last week.

It's not a small increase, at least at one time. Margins have been creeping up at 1/4 point at a time.

How this will affect people is two fold. The first is equity will be stripped away more quickly once the indexes increase to normal levels.

The other affect is a lower loan size.

The very fact that higher interest rates for the reverse mortgage takes away equity quickly is the reason lenders lend less money.

A reverse mortgage lender must take the home's equity very seriously. It is the lender's security. Therefore the lender lends less when rates go up.

How mortgage companies go out of business, as we know from recent financial trouble, is when more is owed than the home is actually worth.

Lending laws don't allow lenders to come after the owners or owner's heirs for the difference. They are stuck with the home value as collateral.

Those who will receive the biggest surprise due to the new interest rate increase are those planning on closing on their reverse mortgage in the next month.

Some of them are planning to pay off mortgages in attempt to eliminate that high payment. Some of these folks won't be able to pay that mortgage off now.

We'll see how this plays out, but it's pretty tough right now.

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Paying online " how safe are your card details?

By Henry Jones

Recent events and reports in the press have shown just how vulnerable your personal details can be. Stolen by Internet thieves, discarded in rubbish bins by banks or scammed by emails encouraging you to confirm your details here, there are plenty of ways that the unwary consumer can be parted easily from their money. Credit card transactions on the Internet have increased rapidly as high street sales crash. So just how safe are your details when using your credit card online?

Despite the terrifying headlines of identity theft and credit card fraud, its actually quite safe to use your credit card to make purchases online, as long as you follow a few basic rules. There are plenty of precautions you can take to protect yourself and your credit card against the Internet scammers or even genuine businesses that find themselves victims of the current economic downturn and collapse before your transaction is completed. Even some of the biggest companies are at risk, as the dramatic collapse of XL Leisure, Britains third largest tour operator, so clearly demonstrated last year. So it pays to pause for a moment and make a couple of checks before you type in your details and press the 'enter button.

The first tip is, ironically enough, always use a credit card rather than a debit card. Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 says that if something does go wrong the credit card company is jointly and severally liable with the retailer. This covers transactions from 100 up to 30,000 and means that if the company does go out of business before you receive your goods, you can claim the money back from your card issuer. A court ruling has determined that this act also applies to purchases from overseas companies, which is particularly useful for online shoppers. However, the regulations may not apply if you have made a purchase through PayPal or other similar payment systems. Debit card transactions do not have the same kind of protection and are more at risk in the event of something going wrong.

Before you log on, check your computer. If you do not have up-to-date anti-virus software and a firewall installed, your computer is vulnerable to attack from spyware, which can skim your details either through a virus or by counting the keystrokes you make as you enter your details. If an email (even one that appears to be from your bank) asks you to confirm your details by clicking on a link, the chances are that it is a phishing email sent to the unwary consumer and designed to part them and their money surprisingly quickly. Your bank or credit card provider will never ask you to provide sensitive details by email or phone, so any email that does ask for this kind of information is a scam.

Check if your credit card offers an Internet Guarantee. This means that you will be covered against the cost of any fraudulent online activity or, in some cases, loss due to the company going into receivership before your transaction is completed. The exact terms may vary between the various card providers. Card providers that do not offer an Internet Guarantee may instead provide customers with a dispute procedure and may pay the disputed amount back to your card if you are unable to recover it directly from the company, a liquidator (in the case of a company going into administration or bankruptcy) or other third party.

When making any credit card transaction online, look for two indicators on your computer that tell you the site is secure. The first is the inclusion of the letter s in the URL address (a secure site will start with the URL address code https) and the second is a small padlock icon in the browser frame of your screen. If either of these are missing it means that the site is unsecured and your details are vulnerable. Finally, check that the company you are buying from has a real-time address and not just a cyber-address. By following these few guidelines and being aware that there are (easily avoidable) risks to online purchasing, your credit card details should remain safe and secure.

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Student Loan Consolidation Services: Why You Should Use Them

By William Blake

The odds are against most college students when it comes to student loan debt. That is because the grand majority of them will have incurred quite a bit of debt due to borrowing money to pay for education related expenses. Even though some of the student loans that individuals use to borrow money are part of government or bank programs that offer great interest rates, other student loans are probably quite different.

Other people owe money on a series of student loans, each of which has an individual payment and payment schedule. This can become overwhelmingly confusing because the different payment amounts and payment dates are not easy to keep track of at all. Student loan consolidation services can be of great assistance to you if you find yourself in either of the two above mentioned situations or any other similar predicament.

There are a lot of reasons why you would need student loan consolidation services but mostly the use of student loan consolidation services comes about from a need to reduce your payments and make your life easier.

One benefit of student loan consolidation services is that they give you one interest rate which is charged to all your debt instead of a different interest rate for each loan. If, for instance, not too long before graduating from college you had to take out student loans with high interest rates, taking advantage of the help offered by student loan consolidation services can help you set out from college on a good note and get control over your financial life right away.

When you are just setting out to establish yourself in your new career, having to deal with a student loan whose interest rate is 20% can be a gigantic stress and concern. Help yourself by means of student loan consolidation services.

That's A Lot Of Loans

The majority of college graduates have had to borrow several student loans in order to successfully complete their studies. Just thinking of trying to keep track of so many loans and organize payment of each one can be a sobering thought.

Institutions that offer student loan consolidation services will let you take all of your current student loans and consolidate them to just one monthly payment with one flat interest rate. If that interest rate is lower than what you currently pay, you will save money each month on payments, too.

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Facts On FHA Mortgage Loans

By Frank Taylor

For people interested in making a home purchase, an FHA mortgage loan is the best type of mortgage to try to qualify for. For people who are first time home purchasers, this type of mortgage can be especially beneficial. The Federal Housing Administration, also known as the FHA, was formed by the government in 1934. Largely, its purpose is to help people interested in borrowing money for a new home qualify for a mortgage loan. It does this by insuring the loans that lenders give out lessening the risk to the lenders.

There are a few different reasons why an FHA loan is the most financially wise mortgage to take on. First of all, the interest rates on the mortgages are usually some of the lowest you can find.

FHA mortgage loans allow for the purchase of a home with a small down payment. This is obviously ideal for a first time home purchaser. It can be really difficult for middle class individuals to save up enough money for a decent down payment on a home. Even when you have a steady income, you still have to pay rent, car insurance, phone bills, groceries, all of which make it really difficult to save a large sum of money.

Another positive thing that FHA loans have to offer is their low interest rates. Lower interest rates means that the loan is less costly in the long run and also in the short run.

It will be necessary for you to prepare yourself to qualify for the mortgage. One of the most important things you can do is keep your credit score as high as possible. If your credit score could use some improving, do all that you can to increase it before you apply for the loan.

One of the biggest mistakes you can make before purchasing a home is making some other kind of big purchase on credit. Your interest rate will reflect your credit score. If you make a large purchase, you increase your debt-to-income ratio. This will lower your credit score, sometimes dramatically.

You will be pressed for hard luck to find a mortgage loan that is a better deal than an FHA mortgage loan, especially for those people who are looking to buy a home for the first time. If you are interested in this type of loan, talk to your real estate agent about lenders that can offer one to you.

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Buy Baltimore Condominiums

By J. Kim

While the rest of country is in housing downturn, Baltimore condominiums market is little better than the rest of the country. While the real estate has declined significantly, the sales prices of condos remain stable. The average sales price for condos in Baltimore was $280,000 in 2008 compared with about the same in the July of 2007.

Luxury condo markets in greater Baltimore area also did not decline much, with recent listing in Georgetown area for $1,300,000 a $400 per square feet, a healthy price for a luxury condo. The price decline seem to be in condos in the middle or lower end of the buyer. The prices of real estate has not decreased much, but the appreciation in value of condos are not as great as in 2001-2006, with only less than 3 percent decline in sales prices in certain metro Baltimore areas.

May developers in Baltimore area have decided to include "going green" as a way to continue building condos. "Greening" has certainly helped some of the developers that were in trouble. But one of the downside of "going green" is that increased environment friendliness cost more than standard building. Many buyers though see this is absolutely necessary for future Baltimore condominiums.

The Vue at Harbor East and Four Seasons Hotel and Residence are some of new construction that will be coming into the Harbor East neighborhood in Baltimore. Because of there prime location, these condominiums are more desirable, many condos here are very desirable to residents.

Some real estate developers are continuing with the construction even with the bad economy. This represent good time to buy since the real estate market will rebound from the bad economy in beginning for 2009 and continuing into 2010.

So, with its many new constructions and condo conversions coupled with luxurious condos, Baltimore is a great place to invest in Baltimore condominiums to live or for just as an investment for future.

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Credit Reports can be a Teaching Tool

By Rob Kosberg

If you have recently been denied credit or plan to apply for credit soon, it would be wise to obtain your credit report. You know that it is a document that is the foundation of a decision on whether you will receive credit.

The three major credit reporting agencies are Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. The reports from all three agencies are needed because creditors and lenders may not all report to the same agency and the reports may be different. If you go to annualcreditreport.com you can find out the procedure for obtaining your reports. You can get a free report from all yearly.

There will be several sections in each of the reports. The first section will include basic information such as name, social security number and other identifying factors. No information about race, salary, or assets will be in the reports.

Lines of credit will be included such as balances, monthly payments, and credit limits. This section addresses credit cards, department store credit cards, mortgages, automobile loans, department store cards, gas cards. This will also cite dates accounts were opened, payment history (with late payments), unpaid child support, and overdrawn bank accounts.

Credit reporting agencies also receive information from the court system. This section will have a listing of bankruptcies, liens, judgments, divorce.

An inquiry from a credit reporting agency will be made each time you apply for any type of credit. These inquiries will be on your credit report and stay on for 2 years. Also, when you make your own inquiry, it will also be on the report.

If the information on your credit report is positive, this is to your benefit. If the report has negatives, this information will remain for 7 years. A bankruptcy remains for 10 years.

It is our personal responsibility to monitor our own credit profile, have errors changed and work to repair our credit. Definitely request your credit reports from all 3 agencies, find discrepancies and mistakes and get them fixed.

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